DENTON, Texas - It didn't take long for Eric Ward to make his presence known.

With three catches, including the opening drive's touchdown, and a first-down converting carry it didn't take long to find out that in spite of three division-one prospects as part of Wichita Falls (Texas) Rider's offense, there was only one go-to-guy in the Raiders 31-28 win over Denton Guyer.

Ward, a three-star prospect, made one big play after another in Rider's district opener on the road against previously undefeated Guyer Wildcats (4-1, 0-1). The Raiders got off to a fast start as Guyer's up and coming program struggled to keep the pace with Ward, Michigan quarterback commitment Shavodrick Beaver and Jurell Thompson who committed to TCU in the spring.

Beaver went out for a few series after taking a big hit late in the first quarter, an injury that not only slowed the Rider offense but Ward himself, who had trouble getting touches through the air and as such struggled to find running room when the Raiders decided to cut out the ground game.